the hierarchy of mercy?

[Audarya-lila dasa]

cbrahma,

 

If you truly want to advance spiritually then you should seek sadhu sanga. Read Srimad Bhagavatam and try to ascertain what the qualities and characteristics of a sadhu are. You will see that they are independent of socio-religious status. Try to find someone who truly loves Krsna and who lives their life absorbed in his seva 24/7. The first step in that search is to want that in your own life.

 

Guru will come to you when Krsna sees in your heart, which you can't hide from him, that you simply can't live without him. When the intensity of your search reaches a feverish pitch Krsna will reciprocate. Then you will find a genuine friend and guide coming to help you. Not to stomp on you or abuse you, but rather to embrace you and encourage you and share his/her bhava with you.

[Beggar]

Srila Sridhara Maharaja: One who cannot tolerate another's position is a jealous person. This Bhagavatam is only meant for those that are free from jealousy so that they can understand that there is only one principal Who is all in all. He is autocrat and He is all in all. He is our master and He can make or mar. Only those who have no jealousy can come to such a level as to inquire about truth. Whereas the jealous cannot admit that there is God and that the whole creation is designed and destined by Him. There is the land of the Lord and if we can enter into that plane then we can be really happy by giving and not by exerting. To sacrifice for Him will bring for us both quantity and, especially, quality. If we can have entrance into that plane we shall be able to swim in the pool of nectar. It is very much appreciable.

…"He is for Himself", Hegel told, "Everything is for Himself, and we are for Him." We are for Him, we are to search for our master and not for a servant, not an order-supplier or a canvasser, but master. And the master says, "Prepare yourself for My service to satisfy Me; for My satisfaction come to be available to the complete degree. Now that you have come within, you say that you will be allowed to steal something and go away? No! All rights reserved. All rights reserved: it is not very easy

to have rights, to establish rights here in My plane. I am such a master? I am an autocrat Because I am omniscient, I am an autocrat You are vulnerable and I am the guardian, the strong guardian.

"Try to put trust in My universal guardianship first. By understanding that I am your guardian you will find peace within you. I am your well-wisher.

bhoktaram yajna-tapasam, sarva-loka-mahesvaram

suhrdam sarva-bhutanam, jnatva mam santim rcchati

"I am the center of distribution of goodness, I am over all: if you can think in such a way, then you can find peace within you wherever you may be. I am everything but I am your real well wisher at the same time. I have no apprehension from anyone, whoever he is and whatever position he may hold."

 

Question: How are we to understand that Krsna is an autocrat, despot and a liar, and our well-wisher?

<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]-->Srila Sridhara Maharaja: He is an autocrat because law comes from Him. The autocrat is above law, law emanates from Him. When there are many there is law. When there is only one, there is no necessity of law. Are you satisfied?

Question: Yes. Then, He is a despot?

<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]-->

Srila Sridhara Maharaja: Despot, but Absolute Good! If there would be any check in His despotism then the world would be the

loser, the environment would be the loser. Goodness must have its full-fledged flow. Is it bad? Can there be any objection to that?

Goodness must have its freedom to flow anywhere and everywhere. "The Absolute Good", we say, then what can we lose by giving Him autocracy'? Should the autocracy be with the ignorant and the fools?

Should the fools and the mischievous have autocracy? No! The Absolute Good must have full autocracy. Not that law will go to bind His hand for then we will be the loser.

Question: Then, He is a liar?

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Srila Sridhara Maharaja: Yes, liar, to entice us because we cannot understand the whole truth, the Absolute Truth. So in order to entice us gradually, to draw us forward, He has become a liar. If He is all-goodness then everything emanating from Him cannot but be good.

Defect can only be found in other quarters. He is the owner. Everything belongs to Him. We are encroachers. He is not an encroacher although He shows sometimes in that way. But that is His

play, lila, and everything belongs to Him. His lying is good. Whatever He says, is so: "Let there be water" and there was water, "Let there be light" and there was light With such potential power at the center, can any lying be there?

Srila Sridhara Maharaja: …Why in this world has He given you freedom? Because free choice is necessary for feeling happiness, otherwise He is one whole, He is everywhere, with no separate individual position. If you are to conceive any separate interest, separate individuality, then freedom is indispensable. Free cooperation can give you real happiness, but if freedom is snatched from you, you become a stone. Is that desirable? Is there any dearth of stones? Then?

Endowed with freedom, free choice to choose the good and dismiss the bad. Then should it be thought that everyone will be bad, so that

then no free choice will be given to anything? Is this desirable?

So realize all these things within yourself and try to adjust with the center. It is not that we are all right and we must trace some defect in Him: we are not to foster that attitude. But He is all-good and the defect is in us. By conferring free choice within us He has not done wrong. We are to find that out. If there is not freedom of conception in us we cannot have the position of enjoying happiness. <!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]-->

Question: Then, " aslisya va pada-ratam pinastu mam ..."

Srila Sridhara Maharaja: From so low you are going to so high! Aslisya va pada-ratam pinastu mam . What do you want to say there?

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Question: Is it just a manufacturing of our own mentality? Is it just our own conception that He has abandoned me? Or that He is here or He is not here? Or that He is with me or He is not with me?

<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]-->

Srila Sridhara Maharaja: He is always with you, but still He is not with you at all. He is always being in the background and He is not in

the positive foreground. I cannot find Him because finding is of infinite character. He is infinite and my position is very meager, so I can never be satisfied.

He is with me in the background as the infinite character, but I only have my meager conception therefore just how much can I get of Him? But I know the fact that He is bigger and bigger whereas I am finer and finer. So satisfaction and dissatisfaction are both contained: it cannot but be. The infinite character is in the background and the finite character is before me. Because I have got small existence, how can I take part of Him? What I can have in my possession of Him, that is very meager: the background says " This is nothing," So many others are also there. So many are holding higher positions, and that is also a relativity: relative life. Parts are always within the laws of relativity, including ourselves. In this material plane we are unsatisfied. If I have got one state then I want to conquer the whole world, then I want to conquer the whole solar system: there is no end. Even in connection with the physical infinite we aspire to hold a higher position, and in the spiritual plane it is also such. There is also the realm of the type of satisfaction of losing one's personality and entering into deep, sound sleep. That is found in Brahmaloka and Viraja. On one side of that we get good, and on the other we get bad. The property for exploitation is infinite, and the realm of service to the master, competition, that is also infinite.- To have an individual position necessarily means to be in the environment of infinite, Good or bad. Healthy or diseased...

[theist]

 

I have never had a satisfactory explanation of how an individual is to progress to the ultimate vision of seeing all living entities as parts and parcels of Krsna by participating in the whole rigid hierarchical system of

points and privileges.

 

Point taken. Just automatically progressing up such arigid hierarchial ladder of points and privileges is not the same as progressive spiritual realization.

 

 

Initiation both first and second, full time service, varna-asrhama- sannyasa and on and on...

While not an absolute necessity we can see how the above structuring of society regulated society towards the idea of God consciousness. IOW in the mode of goodness from which transcendental knowledge expands.

 

Kulapavana's initial answer was complete in this way.

 

Indulekadasi showed how these differences in positon are all through society and not just religious institutitons. Can't be avoided in the material world.

 

 

 

This hierarchical view has practical impact on how others are treated - a need to label and categorize them according to their hierarchical and religious credentials.

I find this absolutely unattractive and the furthest thing from spiritual realization.

 

It may be unattractive for you and as such it is not a requirement for God realization. Frankly it is unattractive to me also. But for most it may be an attractive way to structure material life so as to allow the mind to be more focused and controled.

 

 

vidya vinaya sampane brahmane gavi hastini

suni caiva sva pake ca panditah sama darsinah (Gita

5.18)

 

The humble sages, by virtue of true knowledge, see with

equal vision a learned and a gentle brahmana, a cow,

an elephant, a dog and a dog eater.

 

If this is not the ultimate knowledge and realization , then what is?

 

 

Yes but the humble sage can see both fields, the material and the spiritual. He sees the same soul in the body of a female prostitute, a tiger and his familial brother. But yet of the three he may hug the brother but avoid hugging the body of the prostitute and tiger.

 

It is not that such a sage is walking around mindless in oneness. In the Gita Krsna says that the self realized continue to act but for the purpose of leading others on the right path.

[cbrahma]

 

cbrahma,

 

If you truly want to advance spiritually then you should seek sadhu sanga. Read Srimad Bhagavatam and try to ascertain what the qualities and characteristics of a sadhu are. You will see that they are independent of socio-religious status. Try to find someone who truly loves Krsna and who lives their life absorbed in his seva 24/7. The first step in that search is to want that in your own life.

 

Guru will come to you when Krsna sees in your heart, which you can't hide from him, that you simply can't live without him. When the intensity of your search reaches a feverish pitch Krsna will reciprocate. Then you will find a genuine friend and guide coming to help you. Not to stomp on you or abuse you, but rather to embrace you and encourage you and share his/her bhava with you.

That is my whole point. That association emprisons one in this rigid hierarchical structure. Nobody will give you the time of day of your 'out of caste'.

[cbrahma]

 

What innocents were killed at Kuruksetra? like WHO? these were all professional soldiers willingly going into battle. Distinctions ARE important. It is not all one, you know...

Bishma was guilty of what?

Every religious war is fought under the presumption that God has blessed them with a holy war.

[Kulapavana]

 

Bishma was guilty of what?

Every religious war is fought under the presumption that God has blessed them with a holy war.

 

Kurukshetra was not a religious war and Bhishma was not in the category of innocent bystanders, civilians, or unwilling participants.

 

The tens of thousands people butchered by the Holy Inquisition are not paralelled by anything Vedic either.

 

Defending a barbaric practice of forcing your religion upon others is not my cup of tea.

[Beggar]

 

cbrahma,

 

If you truly want to advance spiritually then you should seek sadhu sanga. Read Srimad Bhagavatam and try to ascertain what the qualities and characteristics of a sadhu are. You will see that they are independent of socio-religious status. Try to find someone who truly loves Krsna and who lives their life absorbed in his seva 24/7. The first step in that search is to want that in your own life.

 

Guru will come to you when Krsna sees in your heart, which you can't hide from him, that you simply can't live without him. When the intensity of your search reaches a feverish pitch Krsna will reciprocate. Then you will find a genuine friend and guide coming to help you. Not to stomp on you or abuse you, but rather to embrace you and encourage you and share his/her bhava with you.

 

 

That is my whole point. That association emprisons one in this rigid hierarchical structure. Nobody will give you the time of day of your 'out of caste'.

First we offend true Vaisnavas then we leave the association of devotees. First in our minds and hearts and then on the physical plane.

[gHari]

It seems that when we can see the soul in ourselves, when we can see Paramatma in ourselves, then we will see these personalities also in others. When we identify with our soul then we will see them as souls as well. That seems logical. It's a vantage point thing.

[cbrahma]

 

Kurukshetra was not a religious war and Bhishma was not in the category of innocent bystanders, civilians, or unwilling participants.

 

The tens of thousands people butchered by the Holy Inquisition are not paralelled by anything Vedic either.

 

Defending a barbaric practice of forcing your religion upon others is not my cup of tea.

The Mahabharata is just as bloody.

[cbrahma]

 

First we offend true Vaisnavas then we leave the association of devotees. First in our minds and hearts and then on the physical plane.

Of course, that's the standard defense for the wonderful hierarchy.

[Beggar]

 

Of course, that the standard defense for the wonderful hierarchy.

 

Srila Sridhar Maharaj:

Autocracy and democracy do not go well together. Our system is autocratic. Guru is all in all. Our submission to guru is unconditional. If a disciple sees that his guru's powers are being restricted by other Vaisnavas, it will create a great disturbance in his mind, a disturbance to his absolute faith in his guru. This is where the Krsna conception of Godhead comes to our relief. He whom we think to be supreme-most-Krsna--Yasoda is whipping him. He is carrying Nanda's shoes on his head, and he is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In this way we can adjust everything. Both the absolute faith and the relative position of the non-absolute--these two things should be harmonized.

The guru should be recognized by impartial judgement. Everyone thinks that his own mother is the most affectionate. But when a comparison is drawn between two mothers to see who is more affectionate, an impartial criterion will be applied. This is called tatastha-vicara: an impartial comparison of relative and absolute considerations. When the two are weighed, the absolute calculation will always have the greater value.

[Beggar]

Srila Sridhar Maharaj:

Only surrender, and we will have that high relationship. Serving attitude is our friend. We are a unit of serving attitude, and service means to surrender to the higher. And the hlgher means the plane uncontamlnated with material and intellectual acquisition. We must serve such a higher plane.

[indulekhadasi]

 

Kurukshetra was not a religious war and Bhishma was not in the category of innocent bystanders, civilians, or unwilling participants.

 

The tens of thousands people butchered by the Holy Inquisition are not paralelled by anything Vedic either.

 

Defending a barbaric practice of forcing your religion upon others is not my cup of tea.

 

I am a little confused after reading your post. If the battle of Kurukshetra wasn't a holy war, then why did Krishna want Arjuna to fight in it? Any war that must take place to bring dharma into good standing IS a holy war. And to make Yudhisthira (who is the son of dharma) king, that war was needed. All methods of peace had failed.

 

Bhishma WAS an unwilling participant. I agree he wasn't an innocent bystander or civilian like Lord Balarama. But he was not eager for battle and throughout his long life had tried to make Dhritarastra see the light. Yes, the one fault he had was he did not try to save Draupadi when she asked him for help. But you can accuse the Pandavas of the same fault. Bhishma was forced to participate because of a vow he had made to his father a long time before any conflict started- that he would always protect the throne of Hastinapura. If he was eager for battle, then why did he reveal the way he could die to the Pandavas?

 

Even if he had flatly refused to fight, Krishna would still make him fight. The actual deep reason that Krishna had placed Bhishmadeva on the opposing side, was that so that He would be able to be wounded by his arrows. These showers of arrows on his body were even more pleasing to Krishna then a non-devotee's showering of soft flower petals on His body.

 

Remember Bhishmadeva was a great devotee who was one of the 12 mahajanas.

[cbrahma]

 

Srila Sridhar Maharaj:

Autocracy and democracy do not go well together. Our system is autocratic. Guru is all in all. Our submission to guru is unconditional. If a disciple sees that his guru's powers are being restricted by other Vaisnavas, it will create a great disturbance in his mind, a disturbance to his absolute faith in his guru. This is where the Krsna conception of Godhead comes to our relief. He whom we think to be supreme-most-Krsna--Yasoda is whipping him. He is carrying Nanda's shoes on his head, and he is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In this way we can adjust everything. Both the absolute faith and the relative position of the non-absolute--these two things should be harmonized.

The guru should be recognized by impartial judgement. Everyone thinks that his own mother is the most affectionate. But when a comparison is drawn between two mothers to see who is more affectionate, an impartial criterion will be applied. This is called tatastha-vicara: an impartial comparison of relative and absolute considerations. When the two are weighed, the absolute calculation will always have the greater value.

Yep that's the standard justification for the hierarchy.

Not too insipring...or convincing, I might add.

[cbrahma]

 

Srila Sridhar Maharaj:

Only surrender, and we will have that high relationship. Serving attitude is our friend. We are a unit of serving attitude, and service means to surrender to the higher. And the hlgher means the plane uncontamlnated with material and intellectual acquisition. We must serve such a higher plane.

That's the power manifesto of the system, no doubt. Be my guest, let them run your life.

No thanks.

[Beggar]

 

Srila Sridhar Maharaj:

Only surrender, and we will have that high relationship. Serving attitude is our friend. We are a unit of serving attitude, and service means to surrender to the higher. And the hlgher means the plane uncontamlnated with material and intellectual acquisition. We must serve such a higher plane.

 

That's the power manifesto of the system, no doubt. Be my guest, let them run your life.

No thanks.

That is also the Krsna Conscious manifesto of the Six Goswamis who were sleeping underneath a different tree every night 500 years ago. It is also the manifesto not so much in thought but in deed of the inhabitants of Vrndavana, 5,000 years ago. It is the ideal of bhakti yoga and it transcends institutions and their histories. It is the creed of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

[cbrahma]

 

That is also the Krsna Conscious manifesto of the Six Goswamis who were sleeping underneath a different tree every night 500 years ago. It is also the manifesto not so much in thought but in deed of the inhabitants of Vrndavana, 5,000 years ago. It is the ideal of bhakti yoga and it transcends institutions and their histories. It is the creed of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

So all the animals were part of the hierarchy all of them marching in step.

I don't think so. Caitanya Mahaprabhu was not demanding like Krsna in Bhagavad Gita.

[Shakti-Fan]

<center>Vyasa Puja - Hawaii - January 21 2004

 

</center> <center>by Tridandisvami Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja

 

</center> <center>[spoken on the Avirbhava Tithi (Divine Appearance Day) of Srila Narayana Maharaja]</center>

<center>Hilo, Hawaii January 21, 2004</center>

 

 

In our Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya Sampradaya it is the custom that any acarya who is widely spreading Krsna consciousness in the line of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Srila Rupa Gosvami, under the guidance of Sri Krsna Dvaipayana Vyasadeva, will worship Srila Vyasadeva and the guru-parampara on his birthday. This worship is called Guru-puja and also Vyasa-puja.

 

We have seen how our Gurudeva and his god-brothers used to very humbly celebrate their Vyasa-puja. This occasion is not meant for taking puja or worship from disciples. On his birthday the acarya worships his guru and guru-parampara, Srila Vyasadeva, Sri Krsna, Sriman Mahaprabhu, Srimati Radhika and others – in a mood of great respect. This is Guru-puja or Vyasa-puja.

Srila Narayana Maharaja in Hawaii

 

Why do we do bhakti to Sri Krsna? What is the reason that we pay so much respect to Sri Gurudeva? If we are gaining spiritual advancement from someone, we respect him. No gain, no respect. Sri Gurudeva always feels indebted to his Gurudeva and guru-parampara. Without Guru, guru-parampara, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Sri Krsna, what is there? Nothing. In other words there can be no spiritual advancement. Sri Guru considers that all the tattva-jnana, knowledge of established truths, that he has, and whatever bhakti he has, is due to Sri Gurudeva and his guru-parampara. Srila Gurudeva is not independent. He is dependent on his guru-parampara, coming from Srila Vyasadeva. Being a manifestation of Lord Narayana Himself, Srila Vyasadeva is the root of all Gurus, and he has written in his books – Srimad Bhagavatam, Puranas and all others scriptures – about the great debt we owe to Lord Krsna.

Alone, a person is never able to search out a bona fide Guru. If you search on your own, you will accept a bogus guru, because you don't know who is Guru and what are his qualities and standards. You will have to judge by the words of Vyasadeva:

 

 

tasmad gurum prapadyeta

jijnasuh sreya uttamam

sabde pare ca nisnatam

brahmany upasamasrayam

(SB 11.3.21)

Srila Vyasadeva has given this definition of guru, and our guru-parampara has accepted it. If you are going to search out your Gurudeva independently, I think that most of you will have bogus gurus who are fallen. You will choose Australian kan-guroos – nothing more than that. When you will have the association of a high class devotee you will have power to judge – not before that. You will also have to take the help of a vartma-pradarsaka-guru, he who shows the path to the pure Guru. The vartma-pradarsaka-guru will point him out and tell you, "Oh, he is really Guru." Otherwise, how could you have known that Parama-pujyapada Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja is Guru? Could you have judged by your intelligence? No. On you own you are not even able to judge whether or not Sri Krsna is the Supreme Lord. Even Lord Brahma and Lord Rudra are not able to judge. Muhyanti yat surayah – the great sages and demigods are bewildered about Him. (SB 1.1.1). Even liberated persons could not understand that the son of Nanda Maharaja and Yasoda-maiya is the Supreme Lord.

So Gurudeva is very merciful. He will attract those who have sukrti (sufficient past spiritual pious activities) and he will reveal his purity in those devotees' hearts.

Sri Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya was, in another form, the priest of the demigods named Brihaspati. We cannot imagine how learned he was, but still he could not understand that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the Supreme Lord. When Sriman Mahaprabhu mercifully revealed that truth in his heart, then he understood. Otherwise, how would he have been able to know?

Today we are celebrating Guru-puja, because we are very indebted to our Gurudeva, the guru-parampara and Srila Vyasadeva. In India, all the various sampradayas –Vaisnava and Mayavadi as well – accept Sri Vyasa as Guru, and all worship him on the day of Guru-puja without hesitation. We have heard from our Gurudeva that although Sankaracarya worshiped Vyasadeva externally, he also said that Vyasadeva was "bhranta", meaning that he had spoken wrongly:

"In his Vedanta-sutra Srila Vyasadeva has described that everything is but a transformation of the energy of the Lord. Sankaracarya, however, has misled the world by commenting that Vyasadeva was mistaken. Thus he has raised great opposition to theism throughout the entire world." (CC Adi 7.121)

Sankaracarya is therefore not really a sisya, disciple, and Srila Vyasadeva does not accept his so-called respect and puja.

We should try to know the heart of Gurudeva – what he really wants. Don’t cook as you wish. Don't do anything as you like. This is not service to Gurudeva. We should try to know the mood of Gurudeva – what he wants and what Lord Krsna wants. Try to realize this and try to please Krsna. Whatever you do should be done to please Krsna. Here, Sri Krsna means the whole guru-parampara, Krsna Himself, and especially Srimati Radhika and all the gopis, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Sri Nityananda Prabhu. Whatever you do should be done to please Guru and Gauranga. You should only marry – to please Krsna. You should only not marry – to please Krsna. The gopis married their husbands to please Krsna They thought, "We will serve Krsna in parakiya-rasa." If they had married Krsna there would have been no parakiya-rasa.

We are very fortunate to come have come to this guru-parampara line of Srila Vyasadeva, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and our Gurudeva. This line is perfect. In this line you can very easily have the topmost bhakti, Vraja-bhakti. You cannot have it anywhere else.

Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja came to this world and to Western countries only to deliver these truths, and they are present in his books for those qualified to see them. However, due to the fallen state of his audience he had to begin his preaching by cutting the jungles of Mayavada, sakhi-bheki, sahajiya and other philosophies – and then his period of stay in this world was over. Lord Krsna called him: "Please return here. I am sending your successor to take your place." So he left. He could have stayed here longer, but he saw the mood of his Gurudeva and Sri Krsna – and he went to fulfill their desires.

Sri Vyasa-puja is observed for the purpose of pleasing Krsna, and it has been celebrated since the very beginning of our parampara. Sri Sukadeva Gosvami first performed Vyasa-puja to his Gurudeva, Srila Vyasadeva himself Then, Srila Suta Gosvami performed Guru-puja to his Gurudeva, Sri Sukadeva Gosvami. Just before replying the questions of the sages at Naimasaranya he prayed:

 

 

yam pravrajantam anupetam apeta-krtyam

dvaipayano viraha-katara ajuhava

putreti tan-mayataya taravo bhinedus

tam sarva-bhuta-hrdayam munim anato 'smi

(Srimad-Bhagavatan 1.2.2)

 

["I offer pranama to Sri Sukadeva Gosvami, who can enter the hearts of all living beings. When he left home without undergoing the purificatory processes such as accepting the sacred thread, his father Sri Vyasadeva cried out, 'O my son!' As if they were absorbed in that same feeling of separation, only the trees echoed in response to his call."]

Srila Sukadeva Gosvami prayed, "O Sri Vyasadeva, my father and Guru, how marvellous you are! And how merciful! You are causelessly merciful! You dragged me from the forest and from Mayavada philosophy to your lotus feet, and you taught me Srimad-Bhagavatam. By your mercy I was totally changed." This is the job of a Guru. The bona fide Guru does not consider that his disciples are his property, He does not think, "They are my property." Nowadays I see this going on. So-called gurus think that their disciples are their property; so they accept all their offerings and fall down. A real guru never thinks like that.

At the time of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu there was a meeting in the evening after nagara-sankirtana in the house of Srivasa Pandita. In the meeting Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu announced, “Tomorrow is Vyasa-puja. Srivasa, we will observe Vyasa-puja here in your courtyard. Do you have the paraphernalia?”

Srivasa Thakura replied, "Oh, yes. I have sacred thread, betel nut, rice and all other required ingredients and paraphernalia." Mahaprabhu ordered, "We should be ready at nine in the morning." All others came on time the next day, but Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself arrived somewhat late – and saw that all were waiting for Him. He asked, "Why are you waiting? Nityananda Prabhu is My Guru – My guru-varga (senior). It seems that he is My elder brother, but I see him in relation to his Gurudeva, who is My param-gurudeva (grand spiritual master). Nityananda is My Gurudeva's Guru and he still greater; so He will do Vyasa Puja.” [Nityananda Prabhu had taken diksa from Laksmipati Tirtha, the Guru of Sri Madhavendra Puri, who was in turn the parama-guru of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Nityananda Prabhu was actually Sri Madhavendra Puri’s god-brother, but He accepted him as His siksa-guru.]

Before Mahaprabhu's arrival, Srivasa Thakura, Sri Advaita Acarya and all others had requested Sri Nityananda Prabhu to perform Vyasa-puja. They had told Him, "Please begin." Nityananda Prabhu replied, "Yes, yes, I am just about to do it. I will do it right now" But He was not doing it. He simply remained in his seat. Then, when Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu came He at once ordered Nityananda Prabhu, "Why are You delaying? You should begin Vyasa-puja." Nityananda Prabhu then took a very beautiful and fragrant garland and placed it around the neck of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, saying, "You are the same as Lord Krsna", and then He began to perform the arati and worship of Mahaprabhu.

Sriman Mahaprabhu became ashamed, thinking, "Why is He doing this?" Nityananda Prabhu – Baladeva Prabhu – possesses full knowledge of all tattva (established truths). In fact, His lotus feet stand on the head of all tattvas. He replied, "What I am doing is correct. We should try to please the worshipable deity of Srila Vyasadeva – Rasamayi Sri Krsna, who is akhila-rasamitra-sindhu (an ocean of the nectar of pure transcendental mellows). This is Vyasa-puja."

The history of Sri Vyasa-puja began at the beginning of the world, when the Vedas were first created. Vyasadeva divided Veda into four sections, and after that he further explained them in the form of the Puranas and the Upanisads. The Svetasvatara Upanisad states:

 

 

yasya deva para bhaktir

yatha deve tatha gurau

tasyaite kathita hy arthah

prakasante mahatmanah

 

["Only unto those great souls who have implicit faith in both the Lord and the spiritual master are all the imports of Vedic knowledge automatically revealed."]

For those who have the supreme bhakti for the lotus feet of Parama-brahma, the Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Krsna, and equal bhakti for the lotus feet of their Gurudeva (who reveals Lord Krsna to them), the essence and all meanings of the Vedas, along with bhakti, will manifest in their hearts. You should not think of Gurudeva like a fashion. In fact, you should have more faith in Guru than in Krsna. Krsna will never cheat you, but even if He will cheat you, Sri Gurudeva will not cheat you. And you should not try to cheat Gurudeva by trying to hide the contents of your heart and thinking, "Oh, Gurudeva should not know." He knows everything, so why attempt to cheat him?

At the time of Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja there were no disciples advanced enough to understand what kind of faith one must have in the lotus feet of Gurudeva, nor were they able to understand his identity and mission. His disciples thought only that their Gurudeva had come to spread nama-sankirtana. This is not his greatest glory. This is one aspect of his glory, but there is more. His real glory is that he is Dayita-dasa. Srimati Radhika is Dayita, Sri Krsna’s most beloved, and Her dasi is Sri Gurudeva. This is his supreme glory. You should realize who he is. If a person who claims to be Guru is not actually that glorious, how can he give krsna-prema to the whole world? If he has no krsna-prema, not even a scent of krsna-prema, how can he give it? If he has no raganuga-bhakti, how can he give it? If he does not even have vaidhi-bhakti – like Prahlada Maharaja who performed sravanam-kirtanam Visnu-smaranam (pure hearing, chanting and remembering the Supreme Lord) – how can he preach? Such so-called gurus are fallen, and other fallen persons will think, "Oh, my Gurudeva is very, very high." But he is actually fallen like his disciple. So you must learn and realize how to discriminate.

[Shakti-Fan]

Vyasa Puja - Hawaii - January 21 2004 Continued

 

In one of the Upanisads there is a history of a Guru and his disciple Aruni. Aruni's Gurudeva decided to test him, to see how surrendered he was to him. He told Aruni, "It is raining and night has fallen. Go at once go to the field." The field was some distance away and there was much rain and also severe cold, and Aruni had no umbrella or any other protection. Still, his Gurudeva ordered him, "Go to the field and collect water there for paddy. You must reinforce the dam so that the water will not go to the other fields." His Gurudeva then gave him a spade.

Aruni then went to the field in the downpour and severe cold of dark night. The water was not remaining in the field, because the dam was broken, so Aruni took that spade and began to put some earth on the dam to hold the water. But he failed. Such heavy rain and strong current was coming that all the earth was being washed away. Thinking, "I have failed to do this task," he could not return to Gurudeva. Rather, after some consideration, in order to check the water he laid his own body down beside the dam, and thus he succeeded in keeping some water in the field. The whole night his body was tortured by the water current, but still he was somehow able to sleep.

In the morning Gurudeva saw that Aruni had not returned. He asked, "Where is Aruni? I sent him to check the water, but he has still not returned." He then went to the field and called out, "Aruni! Where are you? What are you doing?" Aruni answered in a weak voice, speaking like an almost dead person, "Oh Gurudeva, I am here." Gurudeva then approached him, took his hands, and said, "Stand up.” He gave Aruni a blanket, embraced him, and said, "Oh, you have passed the examination. Now I bless you that all kinds of knowledge – everything that I have learned from the Vedas – shall manifest in your heart. You shall realize all this knowledge and you shall be like me." At once, without delay, in a moment, Gurudeva had performed a miracle! Aruni became knowledgeable in all the Vedas. This was the examination of "cruel" Gurudeva, who was actually very soft.

In another Upanisad you can see the history of Upamanyu, who was a disciple of Dhaumya Rsi. Upamanyu came to his Gurudeva and prayed, "I want brahma-jnana (knowledge of spirit beyond matter) Please give me this."

His Gurudeva replied, "Brahma-jnana is a very secret and powerful thing. You will have to stay in my gurukula for twenty-five years and graze the cows. After twenty-five years I will give you brahma-jnana if you are qualified."

Upamanyu then began to graze the cows, and after six months to one year Dhaumya Rsi called him and asked, "Upamanyu, although I never give you anything to eat, you are very strong and healthy. What do you eat?"

He answered, "When the calves drink milk and some remnant is left, I take that."

His Gurudeva ordered, "Oh, why you are doing that? You should not do that." But he did not tell him what TO do. Upamanyu again went out with the cows, and after some days Dhaumya Rsi called him and asked, "Oh, you are still very strong. What you are eating? Are you drinking milk?"

"No, no!"

"Then what do you eat?"

"When the cows are resting they chew their cud. Some foam comes outside their mouths and I take that. There are hundreds of thousands of cows, so I am okay."

"I have not given you permission to do this, so why you are doing it? You should not take that foam. They are my cows."

Upamanyu again went out with the cows, and after some days, when one day he did not return with the cows in the evening, Dhaumya Rsi began searching for him. He called out, "Where is Upamanyu? O Upamanyu, what are you doing? Where you are?"

"Gurudeva, I’m in a well."

"Why are you in a well?"

"Because you told me not to take the foam of the cows, so I took the juice from a plant and I became blind. That is why I am here. I have fallen in the well."

Gurudeva approached him, pulled him out, and told him, "First your eyesight shall be restored, and then all Vedic literature and brahma-jnana shall come to you. No need of waiting twenty-five years – you are qualified."

Upamanyu is an example of guru-seva. If you will give your life, surrender yourself like Upamanyu and Aruni, then you will receive brahma-jnana. But you will not get Vraja-bhakti; this type of prema is very high.

At the time of Sri Vyasa, Sri Krsna and Sri Baladeva went to the gurukula of Sandipani Muni. At that time Sudama Vipra from Dvaraka was also there. He was a brahmana and the same age as Krsna. One day the wife of their Gurudeva told Krsna and Sudama, "I have no wood for cooking and no wood for the fire sacrifice. Go to the forest and bring some wood." They went, and while they were out in the forest a heavy rain came with severe cold and wind. There was so much rain that they could not see where to walk. Everywhere the fields were flooded. The boys had gathered some bundles of dry wood, and now they took shelter under a dense tree and stood there the entire night. At the same time, they were holding the wood on their heads so that the wood would not get wet. In the morning, Sandipani Muni personally came out of his asrama searching for his disciples, calling out, "Where are Sudama and Krsna?"

"We are here."

"Why did you not return to the asrama?"

"Oh, there was such a flood."

The two boys were trembling from the cold. Lord Krsna is the Supreme Lord, yet He was trembling and obeying His Gurudeva. When one will be submissive like this, bhakti will then manifest in his heart. Bhakti is not so easy – I think you understand this. You will have to surrender like Krsna did. Then Guru will be happy. He will give his blessings and benedict you with brahma-jnana or even more than that.

Sandipani Muni embraced both boys and blessed them by saying, "You have come to me to learn all 64 arts and all Vedic knowledge. I bless you that everything shall come in your heart – at once." Krsna already had all knowledge, but not Sudama, so by serving his Gurudeva he received his blessings of Vedic knowledge and realization. You should try to be like that.

To be a disciple of a rupanuga Vaisnava is still far superior, and for that you will have to follow Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, Srila Rupa Gosvami and Srila Jiva Gosvami. Still more sacrifice is required to achieve the type of bhakti they offer. When Srila Rupa Gosvami's disciple, Srila Jiva Gosvami, corrected Vallabhacarya in order to defend the glory of his Gurudeva, Srila Rupa Gosvami told him, “You were disrespectful to a learned brahmana. He was only trying to help me by correcting my manuscript. You should return home." Jiva Gosvami then went to Nanda Ghata, still in Vraja Mandala, where he stayed in a crocodile hole. He fasted there and was on the verge of starving, thinking, "If Gurudeva is not happy, I should give up my life." He became so sick that it seemed there was no hope for him to remain alive. Srila Sanatana Gosvami once passed through the area where he was staying, he saw his condition, and then went to Srila Rupa Gosvami and asked him, "What is your duty to the jiva?" Rupa Gosvami replied, "To help the jiva attain krsna-bhakti."

"Then why have you rejected Jiva?" Rupa Gosvami began to weep. Sanatana Gosvami brought Jiva back and Rupa Gosvami gave him medical help and nursed him back to health. Jiva Gosvami fulfilled the desire of Srila Rupa Gosvami.

Another perfect example of guru-seva is Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu placed him in the hands of Sri Svarupa Damodara, and Raghunatha dasa served his Guru with his heart. He did not just massage him; this external seva will not do so much. To massage the heart, to please Gurudeva – this is what is needed. How can we please Guru? How did Srila Rupa Gosvami please his Gurudeva, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu? He knew His heart and he wrote Bhakti-Rasamrta-Sindhu, Ujjvala-Nilamani, Lalita Madhava, Vidagdha Madhava and other books.

Mahaprabhu was extremely happy when Srila Rupa Gosvami wrote the verse,

 

 

yah kaumara-harah sa eva hi varas ta eva caitra-ksapas

te conmilita-malati-surabhayah praudhah kadambanilah

sa caivasmi tathapi tatra surata-vyapara-lila-vidhau

reva-rodhasi vetasi-taru-tale cetah samutkanthate

 

"That very personality who stole away my heart during my youth is now again my master. These are the same moonlit nights of the month of Caitra. The same fragrance of malati flowers is there, and the same sweet breezes are blowing from the kadamba forest. In our intimate relationship, I am also the same lover, yet still my mind is not happy here I am eager to go back to that place on the bank of the Reva under the Vetasi tree. That is my desire." (Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya-lila 1.58)]

The nature of the pure Vaisnavas in our parampara is that when they sprinkle their mercy upon you, you will enter raganuga-bhakti. Under the guidance of Sri Rupa Gosvami you will serve Sri Sri Radha-Krsna, with a leaning towards Srimati Radhika. This truth is very, very secret, and I have brought you here to understand it. Srila Prabhupada, Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja wanted to give this, and it is explained in his books, but you were not mature enough at that time for him to discuss it openly in his classes. Therefore, following in the line of our acaryas and by his desire, I am revealing many things about raganuga-bhakti. No one else is speaking like this. All are silent, but I am not silent. In our entire parampara hardly anyone will give this. I want you all to have raganuga-bhakti. To get it, however, you will have to surrender and really become like the devotees I have described today.

Don’t be like Ekalabhya. No Guru will name his disciple Ekalabhya. We have no connection with him. He was a demon, not a guru-bhakta. Dronacarya told him, "I will not teach you archery." He replied, "I must learn from you." He made a statue of Dronacarya and learned everything from him (in the form of that statue). When Dronacarya later on came to the forest and saw his skill, he was in wonder and asked him, "How have you learned this?Oh, without your mercy I could do nothing. I received your mercy by worshiping your deity, and in this way I have become very expert in archery." Dronacarya was not pleased with Ekalabhya, who he knew wanted to fight with Sri Krsna Bhagavan and His associates like the Pandavas. He therefore asked him, "Where is your guru-daksina? I want your right hand thumb." Ekalabhya then cut off his thumb and gave it to his Guru, and later on, during the Battle of Kuruksetra, Krsna finished him by the use of His cakra.

We should not try to be like Ekalabhya. Someone may want bhakti so that by the power of bhakti he can destroy his enemy, but that is not good . What is the actual method to come to bhakti?

 

 

trnad api sunicena

taror api sahisnuna

amanina manadena

kirtaniya sada harih

 

["One can chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking himself lower than the straw in the street. One should be more tolerant than the tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige and ready to offer all respects to others. In such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly." (Siksastaka 3)]

This is the way by which we achieve bhakti. You will have to sacrifice and you will have to become saranagata, completely surrendered. Sri Krsna explained this in Bhagavad-gita. He played the part of Guru and Arjuna played the part of the disciple. Because Krsna is Guru, we must obey Him if we want krsna-prema. This prema is much higher than brahma-jnana. Now I will worship my guru-parampara and offer puspanjali. Guru-parampara and Srila Vyasadeva are also here. I am very happy with the arrangements today.

Gaura Premanande!

[Murali_Mohan_das]

 

So all the animals were part of the hierarchy all of them marching in step.

I don't think so. Caitanya Mahaprabhu was not demanding like Krsna in Bhagavad Gita.

 

Remember that lovely painting on the ceiling at New Dwaraka of Mahaprabhu in Jarikhanda forest? All those animals were *dancing*. Mahaprabhu did not need to demand, he *inspired*.

[Beggar]

Srila Sridhar Maharaj,

"Those who have enough courage will jump into the unknown, thinking "Krsna will protect me, I am jumping in the name of God, He is everywhere, "He will take me on His lap". With this idea, one who has real eagerness for the truth may leap forward."

[tackleberry]

 

I am a little confused after reading your post. If the battle of Kurukshetra wasn't a holy war, then why did Krishna want Arjuna to fight in it?

 

I think you're reacting, without even trying to understand Kula's point. The term 'holy war' in MB's or Gita's context is understood as fighting for right over wrong, done as a service to Krishna. But the same term 'holy war' was used as a justification by religious bigots to indulge in barbaric practices.

 

This is what Kula is trying to say, and if you can't see the difference between these two, then there's nothing more to say.

[suchandra]

 

Srila Sridhar Maharaj,

"Those who have enough courage will jump into the unknown, thinking "Krsna will protect me, I am jumping in the name of God, He is everywhere, "He will take me on His lap". With this idea, one who has real eagerness for the truth may leap forward."

 

Good, the higher you climb on the artificial ladder, maybe to bogus guru, the bigger you splat when you fall down.

[Kulapavana]

 

Bhishma WAS an unwilling participant. I agree he wasn't an innocent bystander or civilian like Lord Balarama. But he was not eager for battle and throughout his long life had tried to make Dhritarastra see the light. Yes, the one fault he had was he did not try to save Draupadi when she asked him for help. But you can accuse the Pandavas of the same fault. Bhishma was forced to participate because of a vow he had made to his father a long time before any conflict started- that he would always protect the throne of Hastinapura.

 

please re-read what I said in proper context.

 

The Kurukshetra war was not a war between two competing religions, like the Crusades for example. People who defend barbaric religions that force themselves upon others with fire and sword use a bogus argument that Kurukshetra was one of such wars and that Krsna made Arjuna into some holy jihadist. Nothing is further from the truth.

 

From the social point of view, the Kurukshetra war was there because Krsna wanted to destroy the constantly bickering and fighting Aryan kshatriyas, thus ushering in the age of Kali, not because He wanted to impose a particular brand of religion on the conquered people.

 

Bhisma wanted peace but when his efforts failed he welcomed the battle and he participated in it willingly. He was glad to tell Pandavas how he can be killed because he was sick and tired of his life.

[indulekhadasi]

 

please re-read what I said in proper context.

 

The Kurukshetra war was not a war between two competing religions, like the Crusades for example. People who defend barbaric religions that force themselves upon others with fire and sword use a bogus argument that Kurukshetra was one of such wars and that Krsna made Arjuna into some holy jihadist. Nothing is further from the truth.

 

From the social point of view, the Kurukshetra war was there because Krsna wanted to destroy the constantly bickering and fighting Aryan kshatriyas, thus ushering in the age of Kali, not because He wanted to impose a particular brand of religion on the conquered people.

 

Bhisma wanted peace but when his efforts failed he welcomed the battle and he participated in it willingly. He was glad to tell Pandavas how he can be killed because he was sick and tired of his life.

 

Sorry, as Tackleberry said, I read "holy war" in the wrong context, and that kind of threw me off. And tackleberry, I didn't mean to react, but I was just really confused. I think it is because I was watching BR Chopra's Mahabharata serial where the Mahabharata war song's refrain is, "This is a maha yudha (war), this is a dharma yudha."

 

Such are the mistakes of people with less experience. I have conceded defeat to Kulapavana prabhu before. Better not try to challenge great devotees anymore.

 

Jai Nitai!